A cluster of cottonwood trees known as Smith's Grove is located adjacent to Fort Mandan, North Dakota, the 1804 winter headquarters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark Cottonwood stands at the point from which the expedition embarked westward following the Missouri River and beyond into the great unexplored west. The cottonwood is an important timber species that grows rapidly, as much as 3 feet annually. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, and songbirds are among the animals that feed on the buds and bark of the cottonwood.